We capped off the month of March with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League.
Goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo were enough to secure the three points before our Gunners head off to their respective national teams.
WHAT HAPPENED
Fresh from a memorable night at Emirates Stadium that saw us book our place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals, our Gunners headed to south London for our last WSL test before the April international break.
Renée Slegers made three changes to the starting XI that saw off Real Madrid on Wednesday, with Jenna Nighswonger, Beth Mead and Lia Walti stepping in. With Katie McCabe suspended for this fixture, Nighswonger earned her first WSL start since joining in January.
It was an even opening 10 minutes, with neither side really threatening the goalkeepers, but it didn’t take long for us to stamp our authority on the tie.
The ball broke to Chloe Kelly, who raced down the left wing and whipped a cross into Lionesses teammate Beth Mead. Our number 9 made no mistake from the edge of the box, burying a first-time volley into the bottom corner. This marked her 50th WSL goal for the club.
Ten minutes later, we'd doubled our lead through Alessia Russo. Some absent-minded passing at the back from Palace allowed Mariona to pounce and regain possession in the final third. The ball soon fell to our number 23 and she slotted home for her 11th WSL goal of the season.
Despite a few spirited attempts from the hosts to regain a foothold in the game, our Gunners were untroubled and went down the tunnel two goals to the good.
The momentum remained with us as the second half got underway, with the squad looking to build on our healthy advantage. The ever-dangerous Russo was denied a brace by a good stop from Shae Yanez but a third goal would eventually come in the 77th minute.
Chloe Kelly, causing havoc in the box once more, dazzled the defence with her quick feet and her resultant ball across the face of goal was ultimately turned in by Palace's Allyson Swaby.
Beth Mead would bag her second goal of the game in style as the minutes ticked into injury time. Substitute Kim Little shrugged off pressure in the middle of the park and clinically picked out our number 9, unmarked on the wing. Whether Mead's ensuing delivery was meant as a shot or cross proved irrelevant as the ball beautifully floated into the net.
WHAT IT MEANS
Today's win ensures we go into the April international break in second place, ahead of Manchester United on goal difference.
Our squad returns next month for a massive semi-final clash in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
Tickets for our home leg against Lyon are selling fast so book your place now!
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal starting XI: van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson (C) (Reid, 84), Catley, Mariona (Cooney-Cross, 81), Mead, Maanum (Pelova, 63) Walti (Little, 63), Kelly (Kafaji, 81), Nighswonger, Russo
Subs: Zinsberger, Ilestedt, Foord, Blackstenius
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